Max woke up at 4 AM, unable to go back to sleep and filled with excitement for the upcoming mission. She showered while Original Cindy slept, and padded around their apartment, pacing and getting ready.
She hadn't had time yet to talk to OC about what was going on, and sitting around waiting for her to wake up wasn't her style. So she woke her up.
"Boo, is the building on fire?" OC asked, eyes closed.
"No, I just need to talk to you a second," Max said.
"Can it wait until both my eyes are open?" OC pleaded, "You know in, like, three hours?"
"I'm going on a trip with Alec," Max said.
Original Cindy opened her eyes. "You what?"
Max smiled. She knew that would get her friend's attention. "Apparently, we're going to visit his sick Aunt Patty in Nebraska."
Original Cindy sat up. "Are you getting' married?"
"What? No!" Max laughed. "Why would you think that?"
"It's not exactly a stretch to ask, considering how close you two were huddled yesterday. Sketchy 'bout lost his damn mind when you two split. Together."
"No, we're going to Colorado to help a member of his Manticore unit."
Original Cindy chuckled to herself. "You're gonna go save his unit?" she asked, laughing.
Max slapped OC playfully on the arm.
"Okay, I'm sorry, but I couldn't help it."
Max smiled and settled herself across from her friend. "So we'll be gone for a week or so."
"Need me to do some damage control with Normal?" OC asked.
Max pressed her lips together. "Um, actually, no. Alec already took care of that."
"And how did he do that?"
"Well, I guess it's about time I let you know," Max started, keeping a straight face. "Alec and I are dating." Max watched OC's face for her reaction. Her face was surprisingly cool and collected.
"Can't fool me, boo," OC responded. "You already spilled why you two are going to Colorado."
Max felt slightly relieved. "Well, if Normal asks, we're dating."
"So when you two leavin'?"
"In about an hour. We'll be undercover at this swanky hotel, and I won't be able to call you until we're safely out of there."
Max folded her hands in her lap.
"So what are you gonna do when this transgenic is free?"
"Probably get her some papers," she said with too-little emphasis on 'her.'
Original Cindy did not miss it. "You're going to rescue a female member of his unit?"
Max felt her face heat up a little. She hoped it didn't show.
"You sure that's such a good idea?"
"Why wouldn't it be?" Max asked. "That's what I do, right?"
Silence fell between them for a minute.
"Well, I better get going," Max said. "One loose end to tie up before I go."
"Alright, girl, be safe."
Original Cindy and Max hugged and Max headed to the living room to grab her suitcase.
Outside Alec's, Max waited at the door with her suitcase at her feet. She'd been pounding on the door for five minutes without answer.
Max sat down on her suitcase and leaned her head against the wall, hoping he hadn't already left. He had asked her to meet him here, right?
After a few minutes, Max heard a couple of shuffled noises inside, and then a thud.
"Son of a bitch!" she heard Alec through the door.
Max leapt to her feet and pounded on the door. She took a couple steps back and raised her foot, ready to kick the door open.
Suddenly it swung open and Alec flinched behind it. "Whoa! Max!"
Max relaxed and brought her foot back down, noticing Alec appeared to be fresh out of the shower.
"I've been waiting out here for five minutes!" she said. "And what's going on in here?"
"Nothing, just got out of the shower," he said.
Max grabbed her suitcase and entered his apartment. "What was all that banging around?" She looked around, half expecting to find a girl come out of his room.
"Stubbed my toe on the couch," Alec said, pointing to his swollen pinky toe.
Max followed the line of his chest down, over the towel around his waist and to the smallest toe on his left foot.
"You're early," Alec said, walking toward his room.
"Couldn't sleep," Max offered. "Shark DNA." She looked around his apartment. For the most part, it still looked like Brain's decorating style; Alec hadn't added much beyond a few items here and there: bottles of Scotch, surround sound stereo. It was Spartan. "Ready to go?"
"Does it look like I'm ready to go?" he asked, looking down at his own towel, sarcastically suggesting that of course he was ready. He disappeared into his room and swung the door lightly. It didn't close as he kept talking. "I don't have shark DNA, Max. "
Through the small sliver of open door, Max caught a bit of his skin and quickly turned to walk toward his kitchen. "Do you have any coffee?" she asked, opening a couple of cupboards. All she found was Scotch, Rum and Vodka. She opened the fridge and discovered mustard, leftover Chinese takeout and a half-eaten block of cheese. "Or anything, for that matter?"
She could hear Alec rustling about in his room, undoubtedly putting his clothes on. "Check the dishwasher," he said.
Max opened the dishwasher and saw a stash of foods: multi-grain bread, a few cans of soups and chili, and a few packages of flavorful crackers. She caught sight of something yellow at the back and pulled the top drawer of the dishwasher out. Max's eyes lit up as she reached for it. Banana.
"Why do you keep your food in the dishwasher?" she asked, peeling back the stem of the banana and listening to the sweet split noise it made.
"I've been told the building gets rats in the winter," he said loudly from behind his door. "Figured it wouldn't do any harm to store it in a place they probably couldn't get to."
"Makes sense," Max said barely above a whisper, pulling apart the sides of the banana so it had only one split in the skin. She eyed the sweet, white fruit within and broke off a small piece between her thumb and forefinger.
Alec pulled open his bedroom door and carried his duffel bag out with him, closing the door behind him. He watched as Max placed the soft piece in her mouth. Something about her just enjoying the banana made him smile. Maybe it was the way her lips shined or the way her eyes closed.
Alec threw his duffel at the foot of the couch. "You gotta try this," he said, walking toward her. He passed her and opened the freezer, blocking what was inside with his back. "Close your eyes," he ordered, peeking over his shoulder to make sure her eyes were closed before he turned around.
As if by some sort of miracle, her eyes were, in fact, closed. She had a smile on her face. "What is it?"
Alec broke off a piece of the banana and shoved something into the center. "Open your mouth," he said with a slight smile crossing his lips.
"Yeah, I don't think so," Max said, smiling.
"Seriously, you'll thank me."
Max was quiet for a moment, then opened her mouth. Alec stepped toward her. Immediately, she could smell his clean skin wafting into her personal space.
Alec thanked his luck that her eyes were closed, because she couldn't see how caught up he was in her beauty. And it was weird, too, the things he suddenly found beautiful about her. Her lips shined when she smiled. Her relaxed expression forged a testament to the trust they'd built up over the past year. The way her pink tongue glistened and waited for this extravagant new taste made him swallow hard.
He gingerly placed the fruit into her mouth and waited for her to eat. Her lips closed, concealing the fruit, and she chewed slowly, as if waiting to discover the magic he'd just promised. Then it hit her.
"Mmmm, chocolate," she hummed. "And banana." Max opened her eyes to a still-near Alec, who was busied by her expressions.
"Together at last," he said. "Good, right?"
Max nodded. She turned to face the living room and missed Alec licking the chocolate and banana residue from his fingers.
"So you ready to get the hell out of Dodge?" he asked.
"Sure, just got to make one stop."